What's the difference between relay and direct antennas?

[Porkie]

thanks

[maj.solo]

I wonder too !!!
Satellites have bounced singnals off non relay satellites.
And satellite whihc I sent up with only a relay antennae works just fine.

So I wonder too !!!

I tried finding something in KSPedia about the new network but I failed finding something.

[Elementus]

Direct antennas send a signal directly to kerbin but if the antenna can't send it due to distance or the antenna has no line of sight to kerbin the signal will be sent to a relay satillite which relays the signal to kerbin

[Trixi]

a normal antenna can connect to a relay antenna or the KSC directly.

with relay antenna you build your network. so a relay antenna can used to connected multiple satelites and the KSC

for example

normal antenna - relay - relay - relay - KSC -> works

relay - normal antenna - relay - KSC -> dont work

[Porkie]

So.... Why ever use direct antenas?

Only because of their form factor?
I haven't visited other planets with an atmosphere yet so I suppose it could be useul there when you fold them...

Yeah ok

[Elementus]

Originally posted by Huggles `:

So.... Why ever use direct antenas?

Only because of their form factor?
I haven't visited other planets with an atmosphere yet so I suppose it could be useul there when you fold them...

Yeah ok

To reduce cost, weight and drag. Also a landed probe would look a bit strange with a relay antenna rather than a standard antenna

[Eagle_of_Fire]

Originally posted by Huggles `:

So.... Why ever use direct antenas?

Only because of their form factor?
I haven't visited other planets with an atmosphere yet so I suppose it could be useul there when you fold them...

Yeah ok

You use standard antenas for the end of your network when you know for sure you'll never bounce a signal from them. Like previously mentionned, probes or rovers or such things.

I personally built my network by taking on a lot of satellite missions. I build the satellite as requested for the mission then make sure there is at least one science object on it (in case a mission suddenly pop up to get science from high whatever orbit) and add a relay antena too. This way my relay satellites are mostly paid for in the mission (usually turning a profit too) and contribute to my whole game plan.

You also usually always get a mission to orbit a satellite somewhere when you start to get in range of said objective. Best of both worlds.

[Porkie]

Yeah I'm just at those stages now.
Though I suppose I see no point in using anything other than relay antenas, because... well, you never seem to ever need a direct one. Reception planetside is generally just fine if you have a satellite in orbit. Even the basic command pod seems to be able to pick it up just fine, and I never transmit science anyway because it's so ineffecient. I take it all home.

BTW, how many relay dishes should a satellite have?
I have no idea how it works so I generally put 2 mirrored dishes on each satellite. Dunno if it helps or what.

[DaLe]

Originally posted by Elementus:

Originally posted by Huggles `:

So.... Why ever use direct antenas?

Only because of their form factor?
I haven't visited other planets with an atmosphere yet so I suppose it could be useul there when you fold them...

Yeah ok

To reduce cost, weight and drag. Also a landed probe would look a bit strange with a relay antenna rather than a standard antenna

That (at a bit less range tho), and a lander with a relay is simply inefficient in terms of that a satellite or mothership is better able to relay cover e.g. a remote rover than a lander which may have hills around and such. Besides that, antennas need electricity and a relay from what I gathered so far uses electricity also when science is relay transmitted. Which may not be an issue with higher tier electricity stuff and when on e.g. a mothership or relativly big station, but playing career mode and just barely having unlocked the science module which now orbiting Kerbin barely gets by producing electricity for need of that science module, for there to be a relay using electricity which may be transmitting from another mission would be counterproductive. So I currently as is prefer to aim for designated relay satellites, well, in terms of plans once I unlock them better scanners anyhow since currently only have tried one and not really much use to it especially since even the terrain scan apparently doesn't translate into a map viewable in map view.

As for the other issue, more dishes should increase range but according to in-game manual at diminished return.

[Trixi]

i've tested it a bit.

multiple antennas increase the range a lot. I found out that 4 relay antenna (those who look like a big satilite bowl), have a range to Duna or sometimes Jool. Also 4 relayantannas of your first tech can range up to the Mun

[DaLe]

Ah, cool. One would need a four-dish relay at Mun too tho to be able to send (e.g.) science data from there too, or not? Or does it (in-game) have some sort of receiving suction?

[Trixi]

Yeah, a four-dish relay can connect to another fourdishrelay. Well the connection directly to the spacecenter is always much better, than with relays.

some user say, that you should set 2 satelites into polar orbit and 1 in keostationary orbit, to cover the signals. But i guess its easier to install a few satelites into keostationary orbit, (3 is minimum).

Every pod has a build in antenna, but with a very low range and that cant transmit science.

But yes, you should build a 4ish relay (with the first relay antenna), to get a stable connection from the Mun back to Kerbal.

For the first contract with Mun or other planet, where they are called, move a probe to orbit of a planet, i always send science data back to kerbin. Also i transmit crew reports and eva reports, as soon as i get a connection home (those reports have no science loss for transmitting).

If i have a scientist on board, i also send data back, and collect them twice.

[Elementus]

Originally posted by DaLe:

Ah, cool. One would need a four-dish relay at Mun too tho to be able to send (e.g.) science data from there too, or not? Or does it (in-game) have some sort of receiving suction?

If your tracking station is at lv3 even the most basic direct antenna can send data from the mun so long as you are on the side facing kerbin. Within kerbin soi all you need is the lv2 relays (the 50gm) to send data from Mun/Minmus. Also about increasing the range you need 4 of the same antenna to double the range so it is better just to have lots of sats with 1 antenna on it